Small raised bed template

4x4 Beginner Vegetable Garden Plan

This is a low-commitment first bed: one supported crop, a pepper, herbs for frequent harvest, and fast shoulder-season crops.

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Bed size
4 x 4
Plants
16
Space range
12.3-38.7 sq ft

Plan setup

What this template assumes

The planner link stores the template locally in your browser so you can change quantities, drag plants, export a bed PDF, or clear it.

Bed footprint 16 sq ft

1 bed at 4 x 4 ft.

Site Zone 7B

Full sun, loam soil, medium water.

Estimated output 12-28.8 lb

Based on sourced yield rows where available; herbs and flowers may not have pound output.

Data coverage 5/5 spacing rows

5/5 plants have output ranges; 4 need extra risk review.

Plant list

Plants in this layout

Quantities are starting points. Use the Garden Planner to adjust spacing, layout, and risk checks.

Supported summer anchor

Roma paste tomato

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-11a

Qty
1
Spacing
2-3 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows
Yield
8-20 lb/plant/season
Risk
Occasionally damaged / Juglone-sensitive
Compact fruiting crop

California Wonder bell pepper

Annual vegetable / zones 4a-11a

Qty
1
Spacing
1.5-2 ft in-row x 3 ft rows
Yield
2-4 lb/plant/season
Risk
Occasionally damaged / Juglone-sensitive
Herb edge

Genovese basil

Annual herb / zones 4a-11a

Qty
2
Spacing
0.8-1.5 ft in-row x 1-2 ft rows
Yield
-
Risk
Seldom damaged / Not rated
Quick spring/fall greens

Buttercrunch lettuce

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-9b

Qty
4
Spacing
0.5-1 ft in-row x 1-3 ft rows
Yield
0.5-1 lb/plant/season
Risk
Frequently damaged / Mixed or uncertain
Fast gap crop

Cherry Belle radish

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-10a

Qty
8
Spacing
0.1-0.2 ft in-row x 0.5-2 ft rows
Yield
0-0.1 lb/plant/season
Risk
Frequently damaged / Juglone-sensitive

Source trail

References behind this template

These are the common source families behind the plants in this layout. Individual plant pages keep their own source links and caveats.

14 template records NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox Reference basis for ornamental plant size, function, and right-plant-right-place screening. 10 template records Rutgers NJAES - Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance Deer browsing categories used as planning cues; no plant is deer proof under heavy pressure. 8 template records Penn State Extension - Landscaping and Gardening Around Walnuts and Other Juglone Producing Plants Black walnut and juglone sensitivity/tolerance cue for garden placement screening. 5 template records Illinois Extension - Growing Vegetables in Containers Container vegetable guidance for matching container size, rooting depth, and plant density. 5 template records UGA Extension - Growing Vegetables Organically Vegetable hardiness, days to maturity, and row-by-plant spacing tables.

Useful supplies

Setup items for this plan

Product links may earn a commission and do not affect plant rankings.

Soil / Bed prep

Finished compost

Improve bed structure and organic matter before planting annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

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Timing / Before planting

Soil thermometer

Check whether spring soil is actually warm enough for direct sowing, transplanting, and tender warm-season crops.

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Support / Install at planting

Cage, stake, or spiral support

Support upright fruiting vegetables and tall flowering annuals before stems get heavy.

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Planning / Planting day

Plant labels

Track cultivar, planting date, and variety when comparing harvests or pollination partners.

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Watering / Planting day

Watering wand or can

Water new transplants gently without washing soil away from the crown or roots.

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Next step

Make it fit your yard

Templates are useful shortcuts, but ZIP, frost window, deer pressure, black walnut, and sun exposure still matter.

4x8 raised bed cropsCompare compact crops that make sense in a 32 sq ft bed. Zone 7 vegetablesBrowse Zone 7 kitchen crops with timing and spacing data. Deer-resistant plantsStart with plants that have better deer browsing cues.